The Ministry of Industry and Trade to Investigate the Dumping of Table and Chair Products Imported into Vietnam

On September 01^st, 2021 the Ministry and Trade issued the Decision No.2091/QD-BCT on investigation of application of anti-dumping measures for some table and chair products holding the HS Code: 9401.30.00; 9401.40.00; 9401.61.00; 9401.69.90; 9401.71.00; 9401.79.90; 9401.80.00; 9401.90.40; 9401.90.92; 9401.90.99; 9403.30.00; 9403.60.90; 9403.90.90 origin China and Malaysia (Case code AD16) (Decision No.2091).

 

On December 29^th, 2020 the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam received the required dossier of some domestic producers on applying anti-dumping measures of the products above. This dossier is confirmed that is valid on June 03^rd, 2021.

According to the regulation on Law on Foreign trade management, Decision No.2091, and related regulations, the period of anti-dumping investigation is 12 months from July 01^st, 2020 to June 30^th, 2021. And the investigation period for determining damage is 03 years from July 01^st, 2018 to June 30^th, 2021.

The requesting anti-dumping tax of the requesting parties is 35,20% for the table, and 21,40% for the chairs products from China. The requesting anti-dumping tax is 32,40% for table and 24,90% for chair products from Malaysia.

The Trade Remedies Authority will send an investigation questionnaire to relevant parties to collect information, analyze and evaluate the allegations, including: (i) dumping behavior of the exporting enterprises of China and Malaysia; (ii) damage to the domestic industry; and (iii) a causal relationship between dumping and damage to the domestic industry.

The related organizations, individuals having importing, exporting, trading, using the investigation products should register the related parties and provide the necessary information to the Trade Remedies Authority to ensure their rights and benefit according to the regulation of the laws.

If Client needs any more information or request for legal advice or potential dispute regarding trade remedies measures including, anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguard measures or international trade dispute matters, our competition, anti-dumping, and countervailing duty lawyers in Vietnam of International trade and tax practice at ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam always follow up anti-dumping cases and its development to update clients on regular basis.

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Performing Labor Contracts in the Period of Covid-19 Epidemic

The Covid-19 epidemic has seriously affected the development of the economy and society. The situation of businesses being spacing as well as suspension of production and service provision happens regularly in epidemic-affected localities, and that also seriously affects the life stability of employees. Because most enterprises’ financial situations get worse, so the businesses seem like they cannot guarantee income for employees. This is a force majeure and legal event, and the labor law has specific provisions to balance and ensure the interests of employees but also make the best support to enterprises.

 

Performing Labor Contracts in the Period of Covid – 19 Epidemic

 Specifically, according to the provisions of Clause 3, Article 99 of the Labor Code 2019, specific instructions are provided in Official Dispatch No. 264/QHLĐTL-TL of Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social affairs  about paying salary (known as “ stoppage salary”) for employees during the shutdown period related to the Covid-19 epidemic on July 15, 2021; direct instructions for businesses and employees during the epidemic period, in case of having to suspend work due to an incident that is not the fault of the employer such as a dangerous disease, the employee and the employer agree on the salary according to the following regulations.

In case of having to suspend work for less than 14 working days, the agreed stoppage salary shall not be lower than the minimum wage.

In case of having to suspend work for more than 14 working days, the stoppage salary shall be agreed upon by both parties but must ensure that that salary in the first 14 days is not lower than the minimum wage.

Accordingly, the labor relationship is a civil relationship as well as ensuring the agreement between the parties, however, it is also necessary to pay attention to ensuring the life quality  of the employee, thus stipulating the case of having to suspend work from under 14 days that the parties have the right to agree on a salary which is ensured not lower than the minimum wage; besides, in case of suspension for more than 14 days, this is undesirable in the labor relationship as the damage for the employee is not allowed to work as well as does not guarantee income, and this also for the employer that they are not able to guarantee the output of goods and services provided to the partner, as well as the normal operation of the business, etc. Therefore, the law allows the parties to agree on the stoppage salary in this case.

The epidemic is a force majeure. In the case of having to suspend work for too long as it is unable to judge the progress of the epidemic, to ensure the financial ability of the employer as well as the health and safety of employees, the parties may agree to suspend performing labor contract. The content specified at point h, Clause 1, Article 30 of the Labor Code 2019, allows the parties to agree to suspend the labor contract, therefore we can realize this is also an appropriate regulation in the current epidemic period. Currently, when suspended in performing a labor contract, the employee is not entitled to salary and other rights and benefits as agreed in the labor contract. However, the employee and the employer may have another agreement on employee benefits.

According to Article 31 of the Labor Code 2019, within 15 days after ending the suspension period of the labor contract, the employee must be present at the workplace as well as the employer must accept the employee’s return to resume work under the signed labor contract in case of the valid labor contract, unless otherwise agreed by the parties. Accordingly, the employee and the employer must fully agree on the contents related to the suspension of the labor contract, to avoid issues and disputes arising after ending the suspension period of the performing labor contract.

In addition, Point c, Clause 1, Article 36 of the Labor Law 2019 stipulates that the employer has the right to unilaterally terminate a labor contract in case of natural disaster, fire, dangerous epidemic, enemy sabotage or migration, relocation, or downsizing of production and business under the request of the competent state agency, and the employer has sought all remedies but can’t help reducing personnel. Therefore, in the situation of dangerous epidemics, termination of the labor contract with termination grounds is considered a non – illegal act of unilaterally terminating the labor contract.

However, the grounds for termination because of the dangerous epidemic that the employer has tried all measures to overcome but can’t help reducing the personnel are only necessary conditions that the employer needs to comply with, besides, Employers need to comply with the procedure for unilateral termination of labor contracts in terms of the notice period, as well as done allowances to employees when unilaterally terminating labor contracts according to regulations in law.

ANT Lawyers – A labour dispute law firm in Vietnam with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or services request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

 

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Investigation against Evasion of Trade Remedies for a Cane Sugar Products from Thailand

On June 15^th, 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued the Decision No. 1578/QD-BCT on imposition of official anti-dumping and countervailing duties on cane sugar products imported from kingdom of Thailand (Case No.AD13-AS01). However, on August 25^th, 2021 the Ministry of Industry and Trade received the dossier on requesting investigation against evasion of trade remedies of 06 domestic sugarcane industries.

 

According to the Decision No.1578/QD-BCT, the goods on which the official anti-dumping and countervailing duties are imposed bear the following HS codes: 1701.13.00; 1701.14.00; 1701.91.00; 1701.99.10; 1701.99.90; and 1702.90.91. The official anti-dumping duty rate is 42.99% and the official countervailing duty rate is 4.65% will be applied for 05 years since June 16^th, 2021.

Until now, the exporting turnover of the products above of other countries in ASEAN (without Thailand) increases in value. The Ministry of Industry and Trade works with The Vietnam Sugarcane Association monitors the import situation and actively consults and supports the Vietnam Sugar Association as well as the domestic sugarcane industries in collecting information, data, and building request dossiers on requesting investigation against circumvention of trade remedies with cane sugar products to ensure compliance with the provisions of Vietnam’s trade remedy law.

Acts of evading trade remedies are often complex in nature, involving many matters, legal regulations and international commitments. The countries also have different regulations on this issue. In some cases, even though goods fully meet the rules of origin, they can still be considered circumvention.

According to the regulation of Article 81.1 Decree No.01/2018/ND-CP on guidelines for the law on foreign trade management on trade remedies, the Ministry of Industry and Trade confirmed that the dossier is valid. Within 45 days after the receipt of the valid dossier, the Minister of Industry and Trade shall consider the investigation based on the results of examination of dossiers of the investigating authority.

The investigation for prevention of evasion of trade remedies includes the following contents (i) Determination of actions aiming to evade trade remedies; (ii) The change of trade flows from the originating or exporting countries after the effective date of the decision on application of trade remedies and this change is the cause of such evasion; (iii) Damage to the domestic industry or the reduced effectiveness of the effective trade remedies.

The time limit for investigation of evasion of trade remedies shall not exceed 06 months since the issuance of the investigation decision.

If Client needs any more information or request for legal advice or potential dispute regarding trade remedies measures including, anti-dumping, countervailing duty and safeguard measures or international trade dispute matters, our competition, anti-dumping, and countervailing duty lawyers in Vietnam of International trade and tax practice at ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam always follow up anti-dumping cases and its development to update clients on regular basis.

Parties could consult with international trade dispute lawyers in Vietnam for assistance in responding to Vietnam authorities.

 

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Can Foreign Invested Enterprises Distribute Pharmaceutical Products in Vietnam?

Currently, with the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic in the world in general and in Vietnam in particular, the research, production and import of Covid-19 vaccines are the matter that everyone is concerned about. On February 24th, 2021, the first batch of vaccine approved for import was transported to Vietnam by the Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company.

 

Facing this situation, a number of foreign enterprises have expressed their opinions on the limitations imposed on foreign-invested enterprises in the field of distribution of pharmaceutical products in Vietnam. Vietnam has reserved no commitment to open the distribution of pharmaceutical products service market and has not committed to opening the distribution of pharmaceutical products service market under any trade agreement or international treaty up to the moment, because the pharmaceutical sector is sensitive, directly related to access to drugs and people’s health.

According to the provisions of the law, “distribution of pharmaceutical products” means the division, movement and storage of pharmaceutical products from the warehouse of the manufacturer/importer of such products or from a distributor to the end user thereof or to a distribution point or between distribution points by means of various transport methods. For distribution services, in the WTO Commitments, it is clear that pharmaceutical distribution services are excluded from the scope of commitments for all modes of supply. In addition, Appendix 03 of Circular 24/2016/TT- publicizing roadmaps for goods trade and goods trading directly related activities of foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam, it is also recognized that pharmaceutical products are on the list of goods not entitled to distribution.

Regarding this issue, the Drug Administration of Vietnam expressed the following viewpoint: “The suspension of allowing foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam to provide drug storage and transportation services is to prevent the distribution of disguised drugs in Vietnam, contributing to health security and towards the professionalization of the medicine distribution system in Vietnam.”

Point c, Clause 10, Article 91 of Decree 54/2017/ND-CP, effective from May 8, 2017, provides for cases ineligible to distribute drugs as follows:

“10. The entities that are entitled to import but not entitled to distribute drugs and medicinal ingredients in Vietnam must do activities related to distribution of drugs and medicinal ingredients in Vietnam except for drugs and medicinal ingredients they manufacture in Vietnam, including:

c) Providing drug/medicinal ingredient transport or storage services.”

According to this content, foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam are not allowed to transport and preserve drugs, except for drugs and medicinal ingredients manufactured by that enterprise in Vietnam. It can be seen that the restriction on the right to distribute drugs to foreign-invested enterprises is aimed at ensuring health security, being proactive in drug supply and distribution, towards to professionalize the domestic drug distribution system as a foundation to support the development of the domestic pharmaceutical industry and contributing to better control of drug prices in the market.

ANT Lawyers – a law firm in Vietnam with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or services request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

 

 

 

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Can Employer Terminate the Labour Contract in Vietnam with Employee Due To Covid 19 Outbreak?

Due to intricate occurrence of Covid 19, many enterprises are forced themselves to reduce the number of employees for maintaining the operation financially. Specifically, the employer has to make difficult decision to terminate the labour contract with the employee. The termination of the labour contract has to be considered carefully because of potential legal risks brought up which dispute lawyers in labour should be consulted before execution. Within this post, we are not trying to resolve all cases but only aiming to brief some matters of concern for preparation. 

Employment Dispute Lawyers in Vietnam

The employer could refer to the regulation in the Labor Code which allows “an employer may unilaterally terminate a labor contract if as a result of natural disaster, fire or another force majeure event as prescribed by law, the employer, though having applied every remedial measure, has to scale down production and cut jobs. Force majeure in this case is understood as (i) Enemy-inflicates destruction, epidemics (ii) Relocation or narrowing of the production and business sites, at the request of competent State agencies.

In particular, after applying corrective measures, over the time, considering enterprise’s financial potential is insufficient as well as the business production is reduced significantly due to epidemic, the employer may consider unilaterally terminate labor contract with employee. However, employer still have to abide by or ensure the rights to employee regarding the interests which employee is entitle to receive when being unilaterally terminated labor contract includes salary, severance allowance, social insurance, payment for untaken leave days, the tax payment which employer must paid for employee. Besides, employer also is subject to pay a compensation if consented by both sides are employer and employee.

Firstly, employer is obliged to pay salary to employee timely and fully as in the agreed labor contract by both parties;

Secondly, employer is responsible for paying the severance allowance to employee whom has worked regularly for full 12 months or longer at the rate of half of a month’s wage for each working year.

Thirdly, social insurance, employer is responsible for the fulfill payment of social insurance and perform the closing insurance book for employee after terminate the labour contract according to the law of social insurance.

Fourthly, if the income of employee subject to personal income tax, employer must extract from the income of employee to submit the tax to tax agency according to law on personal income tax.

ANT Lawyers – A labour dispute law firm in Vietnam with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or service request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529.

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Handling Violations of Competition Laws in Vietnam

Foreign brands are increasingly popular in the Vietnam market as Vietnam economy integrates into world economy. The openings of economy creates opportunities to attract foreign investment into Vietnam through establishment of companies. To continue to protect the fair competition, and interest of consumer, it is important that the Vietnam state authority ensures the business environment. Accordingly, violations related to competition will be handled in accordance with the law.

 

Dispute lawyers in Vietnam

Acts of violation of competition under Vietnam laws are defined in Article 1 of Decree 71/2014 / ND-CP, including: violations of regulations on control of acts of restraint of competition; acts of violating regulations on acts of unfair competition; violations of other provisions of law on competition. According to the provisions of law, the above acts shall be subject to the forms of punishment and fine. The most common and most powerful impact on businesses and consumers are the violation of unfair competition.

In practice, there are a number of instances where unfair competition acts are associated with intellectual property rights violations, which have a significant impact on business activities of enterprises in the same field; violation of business secrets; activities of advertising that are prohibited i.e. make direct comparison against competitor, provide falsified or confused information to consumers…

If committed acts of unfair competition, the violator will be subject to fine level from VND 10,000,000 to VND 140,000,000. At the same time, additional measures and remedies will be applied, depending on the seriousness of the breach, such as the revocation of the enterprise registration certificate; deprivation of the right to use licenses or practice certificates; confiscation of material evidences and means used to commit the violation, including the confiscation of profits earned from the commission of the violation; to restructure the enterprise, rectify to the public…

From the management of state authority, the detection and handling of unfair competition acts create conditions for enterprises to have equal opportunities in the market economy. From the enterprise’s perspective, it is important to continuously review its business activities in Vietnam to ensure compliance to competition law by its lawyers.

ANT Lawyers – a  law firm in Vietnam with international standard, local expertise and strong international network. We focus on customers’ needs and provide clients with a high quality legal advice and services. For advice or services request, please contact us via email ant@antlawyers.vn, or call us +84 24 730 86 529

 

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Anti-dumping Measures for H-shaped Steel Products From Malaysia Remain in Place

On August 18th, 2021, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued the Decision No. 1975/QD-BCT on the application of official anti-dumping tax on some H-shaped steel products originating from Malaysia (“Decision No. 1975/QD-BCT”). Accordingly, the anti-dumping measures against a number of H-shaped steel products originating from Malaysia continue to be maintained under Decision No. 1162/QD-BCT dated April 02nd, 2021 of the Minister of Industry and Trade.

 

Anti-dumping Law Firm in Vietnam

The Ministry of Industry and Trade started investigating the case on August 24^th, 2020, the investigation process was carried out in accordance with the laws. On the basis of information collected from related parties, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has carefully considered and assessed the level of dumping of H-shaped steel products imported from Malaysia, the damages to the domestic industry as well as to assess the socio-economic impacts, including impacts on downstream industries and consumers.

According to Decision No. 1975/QD-BCT, the anti-dumping tax rate for some H-shaped steel products originating from Malaysia, holding HS codes: 7216.33.11, 7216.33.19, 7216.33.90, 7228.70.10 and 7228.70.90 is 10.64%. This tax rate is lower than the tax rate applied to H-shaped steel imported from China (about 22% on average) and also much lower than the proposed tax rate of the domestic manufacturing industry (16.30%). This anti-dumping tax is effective from August 21^st, 2021 and has an application term of 05 years, the term above could be changed or extended in accordance with the laws.

In order to have a basis for determining the origin of imported goods subject to anti-dumping tax, the Customs authority will check the proofs of origin of goods, including:

(i) Certificate of Origin (C/O); or

(ii) Documents certifying the origin of goods in accordance with the provisions of:

-ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement;

-Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP);

-Free Trade Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the European Union (EVFTA);

-Free Trade Agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The above information is the regulation on application of official anti-dumping tax on some H-shaped steel products originating from Malaysia, organizations and individuals producing and exporting the above goods from Malaysia and relevant organizations and individuals need to know and implement according to the laws.

ANT Lawyers, a law firm in Vietnam always follow the legal developments to update client.  Our international trade dispute lawyers in Vietnam  and consultants represent client in international trade disputes including anti-dumping cases at Vietnam authorities.

 

 

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